Northwestern Middle School — Seussical, Jr. — Fall 2015

AUDITION PACKET - GIRLS

Auditions are August 18, 19, 20 Performances are November 5 and November 7

Audition Characters Cat in The Hat

JoJo Sour Kangaroo

Gertrude McFuzz Mayzie La Bird

All other roles will be cast from these auditions

Lead role auditions Please be prepared to perform all five (5) characters, including sides and song cuts.

For each character, you will be asked to sing the song cut and read the sides with another actor.

Ensemble auditions Please be prepared to perform JoJo’s sides and song cut.

How to find your vocal range If you don’t know your vocal range, it’s easy to find!

Use this YouTube video: http://tinyurl.com/myvocalrange

Using the audition tracks Song cuts are provided in MP3 format compatible with all computers and music

players. A “Vocal” and “Instrumental” version of each is provided to help you learn the melody. You will be using the “Instrumental” cut in the audition.

If you would like to hear the full soundtrack, it is available on most music services for purchase or streaming, including Spotify, Rdio, and Apple Music.

Character Breakdowns Take a look at these character descriptions, and use them as you prepare for each

role. Remember to HAVE FUN and PLAY with the character!

The Cat In The Hat - Vocal Range Bb4 - D5 The Cat In The Hat is the essence of mischief, fun, and imagination. The Cat stirs things up, causes trouble, but always sets things right again, helping Jojo to discover the power of his own imagination as they create the story for the show together. Look for a physically adept actor (male or female) to play The Cat, one who will be able to play many comic cameos and is comfortable improvising with an audience. The Cat does not need to be your strongest singer, but should still have good rhythm and timing.

Jojo - Vocal Range Ab4 - D6 Jojo is a "Thinker", a smart child with a wild imagination. He can be played as being a little bit awkward, a little bit of a loner, or simply a rambunctious kid whose Thinks get him into constant trouble. By the end of the show, he learns what it means to be a responsible member of his world, using the power and possibilities of his own Thinks. He should be one of your stronger singers.

Sour Kangaroo - Vocal Range A3 - Eb5 Sour Kangaroo isn't really sour at all. She's just got a lot of attitude. She's loud, brassy, and a lot of fun.

Gertrude Mcfuzz - Vocal Range F3 - Eb5 Gertrude Mcfuzz is very self-conscious and aware that her one-feather tail isn't perfect. Gertrude changes during the show from a neurotic, nervous and shy bird into one with the power to protect and care for a baby elephant bird and commit herself to Horton. In other words, she stops worrying about her looks and grows up.

Mayzie La Bird - Vocal Range G#3 - E5 Mayzie La Bird is self-centered, selfish, and vain. Mayzie will never admit to her own flaws. She manipulates anyone she can into doing what she wants. But Mayzie isn't all bad. In giving up her egg to Horton once and for all, she has a moment of generosity–she realizes she isn't the kind of person who would be a good parent, and she does the best thing she can for the egg.

SIDESThe Cat In The Hat

SIDE 1

(A red-and-white-striped hat sits on a very empty stage. A BOY (JOJO) enters and notices it.)

BOYNow that is a very unusual hat. I wonder what's under a hat such as that. It could be a creature they call the Ga-ZatWho balances things on his head, 'cause it's flat. Or a stripe-loving Pipester from Upper Mount Bat. Or a sort of a kind of a hat-wearing…

(The BOY picks up the hat, and THE CAT IN THE HAT (THE CAT) suddenly appears.)

THE CAT, BOYCat!

SIDE 2

(THE CAT appears wearing a stethoscope.)

THE CAT(as DOCTOR DAKE)Tut tut, the Doctor said. Such talk! It's too absurd! Your little tail is just right for your kind of bird!

(pause)

All right already! Bring in the Pill-berry bush!

SIDESThe Cat In The Hat

SIDE 3

(THE CAT appears as an auctioneer. NOTE: Another "free" improvisational area for THE CAT—please start with what's here, and improvise with audience a little.)

THE CATGood evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Seusseby's. Our first item up to bid this evening is lot 39, a pendulous pachyderm on egg, nest and tree. The bidding will begin at ten thousand dollars. Do I hear ten, ten thousand?

(THE CAT improvs with the audience.)

Going once, going twice…

(THE CAT bangs his gavel.)

Sold…to the man with the sideburns and the greasy black moustache - oh, excuse me, Madam!

Sold instead, to the man from the circus!

SONG CUTThe Cat In The Hat

Measures 1-19

SIDESJojo

SIDE 1(A red-and-white-striped hat sits on a very empty stage. A BOY (JOJO) enters and notices it.)

JOJONow that is a very unusual hat.I wonder what's under a hat such as that. It could be a creature they call the Ga-ZatWho balances things on his head, 'cause it's flat. Or a stripe-loving Pipester from Upper Mount Bat. Or a sort of a kind of a hat-wearing…

(The BOY picks up the hat, and THE CAT IN THE HAT (THE CAT) suddenly appears.)

THE CAT, BOYCat!

SIDE 2

THE CAT(to JOJO)Our story begins with a very strange sound:The drums of a jungle beginning to pound!

(They begin to drum.)

Now imagine the sky.

JOJOI'll imagine bright blue!

THE CATIt's the Jungle of Nool.

JOJONear the River Walloo!

(JOJO and THE CAT create a blue sky and a jungle setting. Jungle drums begin. THE CAT and JOJO watch as the "Jungle of Nool" is revealed. The JUNGLE CITIZENS enter, along with the BIRD GIRLS, a flamboyant "girl group" of the jungle.)

SIDE 3

HORTONHello...hello?

JOJO(casually to his clover)Hello?

HORTONWho's there?

JOJOIt's me, JoJo. The Mayor's son.

HORTONI'm Horton. The elephant.

JOJOAre you real, or are you a very large Think?

HORTONOh, I'm real all right. I would state that in ink.

JOJOIn my Thinks, I imagine a lot of strange things, and I go to strange places, as if I had wings! I love a good Think!

HORTONWell, for me that goes double.

JOJOSometimes my Thinks are what get me in trouble.

HORTONWhen you think, do you dream?

JOJOIn bright colors!

HORTONMe, too.

(pause)

And I got to strange places. Like Solla Sollew!

JOJOWhen you think, do you think you could fly to the stars?

HORTONLittle friend, no one else could have Thinks such as ours!

SONG CUTJojo

Measures 1-31

SIDESour Kangaroo

HORTONDo you hear what I hear? Do you see what I mean? They made themselves heard though they still can't be seen!

GERTRUDEThey've proved they ARE persons, no matter how small.

HORTONAnd their whole world was saved by the Smallest of All!

SOUR KANGAROO(grudgingly)How true! Yes, how true! Said the Sour Kangaroo. And, from now on, you know what I'm planning to do? From now on, I'm going to protect them with you!

SONG CUTSour KangarooMeasures 14-26

SIDESGertrude Mcfuzz

SIDE 1

GERTRUDEHorton, I bought you a scarf.

HORTONThank you, Gertrude. Have you heard from Mayzie?

GERTRUDEShe sent a card from Palm Beach.

HORTONPalm Beach! Gertrude, what if she never comes back!

GERTRUDEDon't worry, she will. Um- Horton, notice anything different?

HORTONYes, its g-g-getting colder.

SIDE 2GERTRUDE

I'll bet you forgot about Gertrude McFuzz.Well, thats nothing new.I mean, everyone does.But Gertrude did somethingthat few birds could do....

(pause)

HORTONWhat? Who is it?

GERTRUDEIt's me, Gertrude! Horton! Oh, Horton! I was so worried! Are you all right?

HORTONGertrude! How did you find us?

GERTRUDEWell, it's a long story.

SONG CUTGertrude

Measures 29-63

SIDESMayzie La Bird

SIDE 1

HORTONTwo million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine. It's hopeless.

(A voice is heard over Horton's head.)

MAYZIEYou said it, kid.

HORTONWho's there?

MAYZIEIt's me. Mayzie. Up here.

HORTONMayzie…Are you on a nest?

MAYZIEYeah. You wanna make something of it?

HORTONNo, I just never thought I'd see you on a nest.

MAYZIENeither did I, Hort. Neither did I.

(THE CAT rides out on a small, Seussian piano and plays a jazz intro for MAYZIE.)

SIDESMayzie La Bird

SIDE 2

HORTONWhy, Mayzie, I couldn't. Of all silly things! I haven't got feathers. I haven't got wings.

And not only that, but I'm here on a search. I just couldn't leave my poor Whos in the lurch!

MAYZIEI won't be gone long, kid. I give you my word. I'll hurry right back, 'cause I'm that sort of bird! Oh, Horton, I promise! I'll fly back real soon. I'd only be gone for, say, one afternoon!

(A beat, as HORTON considers this.)

HORTON(relenting) Well…we all need vacations. All right, go on, take it. I'll sit on your egg and I'll try not to break it. But please come back quickly– One hour, maybe two. I need to find JoJo. I've got to save Who!

MAYZIE(ad lib)Hit it, Cat! Thanks. Thanks a million! Toodle-oooo!!

(THE CAT strikes up an energetic Latin beat on the piano, accompanying MAYZIE as she flies off, thrilled with her newfound freedom. The BIRD GIRLS watch as HORTON climbs the tree with great trepidation, and gingerly gets into the nest.)

SONG CUTMayzie

Measures 105-137